Elevator signaling system



July 27, 1937.

w. F. AEAMES ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 2e, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATT l :Y

July 27, 1937.

W. F. EAMES ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 26, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT EY w. F. EAMES 2,088,467

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM July 27, 1937.

Filed July 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HPJLL ,ik

ATT EY Patented July 27, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Application July 26,

10 Claims.

lViy invention relates generally to electric signaling systems, and it has particular relation to such systems when employed in conjunction with elevator systems.

The object of my invention generally stated, is to provide an elevator signaling system which shall be simple, efficient and accurate in operation and which may be readily and economically manufactured and installed.

The principal object of my invention is to provide for immediately indicating to a person operating a call button at a floor, the elevator car which will stop at the floor in response to the operation of the call button.

An important object of my invention is to permit the operator of an elevator car to bypass a call assigned to his car in response to the operation oi a call button at a floor and to indicate at the floor the next car that will stop at the floor.

Another object of my invention is to provide for lighting only one iioor lantern at a floor in response tc the operation of a call button to indicate the elevator car that will answer the call.

Still another object of my invention is to provide for overlapping the functioning of the successively energized Zoning relays in an instant signal system for a bank of elevator cars.

A still further object oi my invention is to provide a motor operated car selector for use in an instant signaling system for a bank of el'evator cars.

Another object of my invention is to provide a notching car selector mechanism for use in an instant signaling system for a bank of elevator cars.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

My invention accordingly is disclosed in the embodiments hereof shown in the accompanying drawings and comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates the arrangement of one car of a bank of elevator cars in a hatchway,

Fig. 2 illustrates the layout of a portion of the 1935, Serial No. 33,328

(Cl. TTY-336) floor selector individual to the elevator car shown in Fig. l,

Fig. 3 illustrates diagrammatically a portion of the Zoning network for a bank of three elevator cars,

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically a motor driven car selector system for two floors organized in accordance with this invention,

Fig. 4-A illustrates the physical arrangement of the contact members and operating windings of the various relays and switches shown in Fig. ll,

Fig. 5 illustrates diagrammatically a system similar to that shown in Fig. 4, except that notching drive mechanisms are provided for operating the car selector switches, and

Fig. 5-A illustrates the physical arrangement of the contact members and operating windings of the relays and switches shown in Fig. 5.

According to my invention, I provide for indicating to a person operating a hall button of a bank of elevator cars the particular elevator car which will answer the call as soon as it has been selected. As soon as the indication of the car which will stop at the floor has been given, the person may immediately place himself in fro-nt of the doorway or hatchway entr-ance to the car and he will be ready to enter the selected car as soon as it arrives at the loor. t is then unnecessary for the person to await the arrival of the elevator car before he is informed as to the particular car which will answer his call. The car nearest the oor where a call button is operated is selected by means of a car selector switch for each floor. It is desirable that the car selector switches be operated at uniform speeds and for that purpose I have provided two different drives.

The car selector switch for each ioor comprises several banks oi contact members, each Contact member being individual to an elevator car in the bank. One of these banks comprises a car selecting bank and a contact arm is provided for successively engaging the contact members thereof until the contact member, individual to the car nearest to the floor at whichv the car selector switch is located and where a call is registered, is engaged. At this time, the contact arm of a floor lantern bank of contact members engages a cont-act member individual to the door lantern of the elevator car nearest the floor and it is lighted, thereby indicating the car which has been selected to answer the call. This operation may take place and the floor lantern may be lightedwhile the elevator car is still several floors away from the floor Where the call is registered.

In one modication of the invention, an electric motor is arranged to operate the car selector switch. The motor is initiated in operation as soon as the call button individual thereto at a floor is operated, and it continues in operation to move the contact arms of the selector switch past the various contact members of the contact banks at a uniform speed until the contact member of the car selecting bank individual to the nearest car is engaged.

In another modication of the invention, the car selector switch is arranged to be operated by means of a notching drive mechanism. That is, a pawl and ratchet mechanism is provided which is arranged to step the contact arms of the various banks from one contact member to another, until the desired selection has been made.

In order that consistent operation of the system will result and an accurate selection of the nearest car to the floor may be made, it is desirable that the contact arms be moved past the various contact members of the various banks at a uniform speed. It is then possible to stop the car selector switch as soon as the car nearest the oor has been selected and there is little likelihood that the car selector switch will overshoot or undershoot the desired selecting position as might be the case if the car selector switch were operated at variable speeds.

In order to select the elevator car nearest to the iioor where a call is registered, a zoning system is provided which allocates certain of the floors to each car depending upon the positions of the cars in the hatchways. A floor selector individual to each car is provided which is arranged to operate in conjunction therewith to successively effect the energization of zoning relays. Thus, when a call is registered at a certain floor only the car nearest to that floor and moving in a direction of travel for which the call is registered will have the call assigned to it. Because of the functioning of the Zoning systern, no other car can receive the call. In order to prevent the zone from being transferred to another car as the elevator cars pass from one floor to another, the brush which is arranged to engage the zone segments of the oor selector may be made of sufficient length to bridge two of the segments. At no time, therefore, will the Zoning relays of a particular car be completely deenergized while it is travelling in the hatchway. Stated diierently, before the last zoning relays are deenergized, the next zoning relays are energized, thereby providing a certain degree of overlap which prevents the extension of the i zone beyond a, particular car.

Under certain conditions, it may be desirable to by-pass a call. Such, for example, may be the case when the car is fully loaded and can take on no more passengers. A by-passing switch is provided in each car for operation by the operator. As soon as the by-passng switch is operated, the zone of the next car is automatically extended to include the oors in. the zone which are allocated to the car in which the bypassing switch is operated. Prior to the operation of the by-passing switch in a car certain of the floor lanterns individual to that car may have been lighted in response to calls at various floors in its zone. On operation of the bypassing switch these oor lanterns will be extinguished and the floor lanterns at the same floors individual to the next car which appropriates the zone of the preceding car will be lighted. The lay-passing circuits include a bypassing bank of contact members included on the car selector switch and operable therewith, as will be set forth in detail hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be observed that car B of a bank of cars comprising cars A, B and C is there illustrated. The elevator car may be supported in its hatchway by means of a cable iii which is passed over a sheave l I and counterweighted by suitable counterweights l2. A motor i3 is provided for operating the sheave Il to move the car B in the hatchway. The motor I3 is provided with a shaft extension I4 which is arranged to operate the brush carriage i5 of a floor selector shown generally at l by rotating a lead screw I1.

It will be observed that only the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth floors are illustrated in Fig. l. It will be understood, however', that the remaining floors will be a duplicate of those illustrated and that as many iioors may be provided as required. Each elevator car has individual thereto at each floor two hall lanterns, one for each direction of travel. Thus, at the iifth floor the down hall lantern .'SBDL is provided individual to car B at that oor and, when lighted, indicates that car B will stop at that oor in the down direction. Likewise, for the up direction for car B hall lantern 5BUL is provided. Similarly, for the sixth and seventh floors, up and down oor lanterns are provided.

In order to stop the elevator at each fioor call buttons are provided. At the iifth floor for stopping the elevator car in the down direction, the call button 5D is provided. Similarly, for the up direction a call button 5U is provided. Likewise, for the sixth and seventh iioors call buttons are similarly provided.

The car B is provided with a signal light BS which is arranged to be lighted on the operation of a call button to indicate to the operator that he is to stop the car in response to a call. In the event that he does not wish to stop at the iioor to answer the call, he may operate a by-pass button BPS in order to transfer the call to the next car nearest the hoor. A mast-er switch MS is .also provided for operating the elevator car in either direction.

A portion of the floor selector for car E is l illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When car B moves in the down direction, the rotation of the lead screw il' is such as 'to cause Contact brushes BDS, BDZ and BDlSi carried by the brush carriage i5 to engage corresponding rows of ments while contact brushes EUX and BUZ and BUS also carried by the brush carriage i5 are maintained out of engagement with their corre-- spending segments. As illustrated, contact brush BDS is arranged to successively engage down car signal segments ifi-BDS through tTDS. Contact brush BDZ is arranged to successively engage down zone feed segments lBDZ through SBDZ. It will be observed that the contact member BDZ is shown in elongated form to indicate that it bridges the successive down zone leed segments in order to prevent the zones from overlapping. It will be understood, of course, that other means may be employed for preventing the zones from overlapping. Contact brush BDX is arranged to successively engage down cancelling segments iBDX through SBDX for the purpose of cancelling the calls after they have been answered. When the elevator car B moves in the up direction, the contact brushes BUX, BUZ and BUS are arranged to successively engage corresponding up segments, as illustrated.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be observed that the circuits associated with the down call buttons at the fifth and sixth floors only are illustrated. Since the circuits for the up call buttons for the fifth and sixth iioors as well as for the remaining floors are substantially a duplicate of the circuits illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it is unnecessary to illustrate them in detail.

Associated with each of the down call buttons 5D and @D are call storing relays EDR and GDR, respectively. Each of the call storing relays is provided with a main operating winding bearing the same reference character as the relay. In addition, cancelling windings SDRN and GDRN are provided for releasing the call storing relay to cancel the call after it has been answered by the elevator car arriving at the floor. The ampere turns of the neutralizing windings on energization are arranged to oppose the ampere turns of the main windings and, as a result, the latter are neutralized to permit the call storing relays to be returned to the normal non-operated condition.

Individual to each iioor is provided a car selector switch. At the fifth floor, car selector switch 55S is provided while at the sixth floor car selector switch 5S is provided. Each of the switches includes three banks of contact members, each contact member of which is individual to one of the three elevator cars comprising the bank. Thus, the car selector switch 5S is provided with a iioor lantern bank of contact members comprising contact members ESAL, ESBL and ESCL, each individual to cars A, B and C respectively. A contact arm 5L is arranged to successively engage the contact members. A by-passing bank of contact members SAP, ESB? and SSCP is provided each individual to one of the cars A, B and C, respectively. A contact arm 5P is arranged to successively engage these Contact members. In order to select the elevator car nearest the floor where a call is registered, car selecting bank comprising contact members .iSAR, ESBR and SSCR is provided, each individual to the cars A, B and C, respectively. A contact arm 5R is provided for successively engaging the contact members of this bank. In like manner, the car selector ES is provided with similar contact members and contact arms, the prefix 6 being provided to indicate that the various elements are individual to the car selector switch 5S at the sixth floor.

In order to operate the car selector switches 5S and GS, direct-current motors 5M and 6M may be provided. Each of the motors comprises an armature 2li which is arranged to rotate a shaft 2l through a suitable gear reducing mechanism 22, as illustrated. A shunt field winding 23 is also provided for each of the motors. The contact arms 5L, 5P and 5R of the car selector switch 5S are mounted on the shaft 2! of the motor 5M. Similarly, the corresponding contact arms of the car selector switch BS are mounted on the shaft 2! of the motor EM. Since a motor is provided for driving the shaft 2l and further since it will operate at a constant speed, it is then possible to operate the various contact arms past their respective contact members at a uniform speed. Furthermore, the motors 5M and EM are so constructed that they will reach operating speed substantially immediately after the contact arms leave any initial position. Therefore, the contact arms will always engage the corresponding contact members of their respective banks and pass them at the same speed. When the particular car nearest the floor where a call is registered has been selected, it will be possible to provide for stopping the drive motors within the necessary degrees of accuracy to insure that the nearest car has been selected.

Since it is desirable to allocate the certain doors to a particular car, depending upon its location in the ha'tchway, auxiliary zoning relays EADY, 5BDY and ECDY are provided individual to the fifth iioor. These relays are arranged to be energized as the contact brush BDZ successively engages the various down Zone feed segments. That is, the contact brush BDZ is arranged to successively energize the auxiliary zoning relays for car B while similar contact brushes of iioor selectors for cars A and C are arranged to energize their corresponding auxiliary zoning relays, for example, 5ADY and BCDY of cars A and C.

In response to the operation of the auxiliary zoning relays, for example BBDY and GBDY, zoning relays 5DZ and @DZ are operated. The Zoning relays 5DZ and BDZ are arranged to open their contact members to maintain the oors ahead of a particular car allocated to that car and not to another car.

As soon as the car selector switch individual to a floor where a call is registered has been operated to a position corresponding to the car nearest to the floor, a holding relay is operated which prevents further functioning of the car selector switch. At floors five and six, holding relays 5H and 6H are provided, respectively. These relays not only stop further functioning of the car selector switch but also complete circuits for energizing the floor lantern individual to the car which will answer the call at the floor where it is registered.

In the event that the operator does not wish to answer the call, he may operate the by-pass switch BPS in car B, for example, to operate a by-passing relay BBP. Similarly, cars A and C are provided with icy-passing switches APS and CPS, respectively, which are arranged to effect the energization of by-passing relays ABP and CBP, respectively. The by-passing relays are arranged to cooperate with the b'y-passing bank of contact members of the car selector switches for releasing the car selector switch to select the next nearest car to the floor and to light the hall lantern individual thereto at the floor where a call is registered.

In the diagram illustrate-d in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be observed that conductors or main busses Ll, L2 and L3 are provided. The conductors LI and L3 may be connected to the same polarity of a direct current source while the conductor L2 is connected to the opposite polarity of the source. This circuit arrangement has been employed for the purpose of convenience in showing the auxiliary Zoning relays, the zoning relays and the circuits associated therewith.

It will also be observed that in Fig. 4 of the drawings, only the contact members surrounded by the dot and dash lines indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings are illustrated. The remaining contact members of the Zoning system sho-wn in Fig. 3 are illustrated for the purpose of more clearly setting forth the functioning of the zoning system. Appropriate reference characters similar to those employed for the fifth and sixth floors have been applied for the remaining floors. Since the circuit connections to the operating windings of the various auxiliary and zoning relays for the remaining floors will be substantially a duplicate of those shown for the fifth and sixth oors, it is unnecessary to illustrate them in detail herein.

In considering the circuit connections for the zoning system illustrated in Fig. 3, it may be assumed that car A is at the third floor, car B is at the eighth floor and car C is at the twelfth floor and that they are all moving in the down direction. The auxiliary and zoning relays individual to these floors will be energized. As a result a call registered at the second floor for the down direction will be allocated to car A, a

3 call registered at the fifth floor will be allocated to car B, while a call registered at the tenth floor will be allocated to car C. The principal circuits involved under the assumed conditions are shown in heavy lines while the remaining circuits which for the assumed conditions are not involved are shown by lighter lines. Thus, for example, as soon as a person operates the down button D at the fifth floor, the floor lantern EBDL individual to car B at the fth floor will substantially immediately he lighted to indicate that car B will answer the call despite the fact that car B is at the eighth floor at the time that the call is registered.

In the event that the operator of car B does not wish to answer the call at the fifth hoor, he may operate the by-pass switch BPS. As a result, the fifth floor will be taken out of the zone allocated to car B and it will be allocated to car C. The particular circuit connections and relay operation involved will be set forth in detail hereinafter.

In describing the functioning of the signaling system illustrated in Fig. i of the drawings, it will be assumed that the conductors Ll, L2 and L3 are properly energized, that a call is registered at the fifth floor by the operation of the down call button 5D and that under the assumed conditions the fifth floor is allocated to car B, and that at the time the call is originated car B is at the eighth floor. In response to the operation of the down call button fil), a circuit is completed for energizing the main operating winding of the call storing relay 5DR which may be traced as follows: Ll, 5D, BDR, L2. At Contact members liDRl a holding circuit completed for maintaining the main operating winding 5DR energized, and, therefore, the down call button 5D may be released,

The motor 5M which is arranged to drive the car selector switch 5S, is then energized and the shaft 2l is rotated to cause the contact arms carried thereby to successively engage the various contact members of the various contact banks. It will be observed that the contact arms extend in both directions from the shaft 2|, so that each end thereof is arranged to successively make contact engagement with the members of the contact banks. The circuit for energizing the motor 5M may be traced as follows: LI, armature 20, 5Hl, 5DR2, L2. It will be observed that the shunt field winding 23 is energized in parallel circuit relation with the armature 2l).

Since the car B is assumed to be at the eighth floor, the auxiliary zoning relay BBDY and the zoning relay SDZ will be energized to close and open the contact members SBDYZ and 8DZ2, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The circuit connections for energizing the auxiliary zoning relay BBDY and the zoning relay BDZ are identical with those for energizing the auxiliary zoning relay BBDY and the zoning relay BDZ at the sixth floor. Therefore, the circuits for energizing the sixth floor zoning relays will be traced and it will be understood that corresponding circuits may be provided for the eighth floor zoning relays. The circuit for energizing the operating Winding of the auxiliary zoning relay BBDY may be traced as follows: L2, GBDY, segment GBDZ, brush BDZ, BBPZ, L3. The sixth oor zoning relay GDZ is energized over a circuit which may be traced as follows: L2, BDZ, BBDYI, L3.

As the contact brush BDZ is transferred from down zone feed segment to down zone feed segments, the corresponding auxiliary zoning relays are successively energized and, due to the fact that the contact brush BDZ is sufciently long to bridge two succeeding down zone feed segments, the next auxiliary zoning relay and consequently the next zoning relay are energized before the preceding auxiliary zoning relay and zoning relay are deenergized.

As soon as the contact arm 5R of the car selector switch 5S engages the contact member SSBR individual to car B, a circuit is completed under the assumed condition for effecting the energization of the holding relay 5H. Assuming that the zoning relay BDZ is energized, this energizing circuit may be traced as follows: Ll, 5H, 5R, ESBR, 5DZ2, BBDYZ, L2. The circuit for energizing the operating winding of the holding relay 5H when the elevator car B is at the eighth floor may be traced as follows, transferring the circuits to include those shown in Fig. 3: Ll, 5H, ESBR, 5DZ2, EDZZl, 1DZ2, BBDYZ, L2.

As car B continues to move in the down direction, the contact brush BDZ engages the down zone feed segment 1BDZ, thereby effecting the energization of the auxiliary zoning relay and the zoning relay at the seventh floor, and transferring the energizing circuit for the operating L winding of the holding relay 5H through contact member lBDYZ to the conductor L2. It will, therefore, be understood that the contact arm 5R continues to rotate until the contact member of its car selecting bank is energized which correspends to the elevator car that is nearest to the fth floor. As soon as this. contact segment is engaged, the holding relay 5H is energized and at contact members EHI, the previously traced energizing circuit for the motor 5M is opened insofar as the armature 2D is concerned and no further movement of the shaft 2l and the contact arms carried thereby takes place. Since the movement of the contact arms past their individual contact segments is at a uniform speed, it is possible to so arrange the opening of contact members 5H! that the contact arms will be always stopped in the proper positions.

At contact members 5H3 a holding circuit is completed for the operating winding of the holding relay 5H which prevents the transfer of the call registered at the fth floor to another car, car C for example, should it pass car B in its downward direction of travel. This holding circuit may be traced as follows: LI, 5H, 5P, SSBP, BBP3, SH3, 5DR2, L2,

Since the contact arm 5L is now in engagement with the contact member SSBL of the floor lantern bank of contact members, a circuit is completed as soon as contact members SH2 are closed for lighting the hall lantern 5BDL individual to car B in the fth floor. This circuit may be traced as follows: Ll, SH2, 5L, 5SBL, SBDL, L2. It will now be understood that the floor lantern individual to car B at the fifth floor is lighted as soon as the car selector switch SS has effected the selection of the car nearest to the iifth iioor, in this case car B, even though this car is several floors away and, for example, is at the eighth floor. Because of the holding circuit established through contact members SH3, the selection will be maintained and the floor lantern SBDL will remain lighted until the call is cancelled or bypassed. The person who operated the down call button SD may then place himself in front of the doorway orhatchway entrance for car B at the iifth floor, and he will be ready to enter the car as soon as it arrives at the floor.

The operator is informed that he is to stop at the fifth floor by the lighting of the car signal lamp BS. This lamp is lighted as soon as contact brush BDS of the floor selector engages down car signal segment SBDS. This circuit may be traced as follows: Ll, SH2, SL, SSBL, SBDS, BDS, BS, L2. It will be observed that the contact brush BDS which is arranged to engage the down car signal segments is -given a lead of one floor, so that when car B is at the sixth floor, the operator is informed that he is to stop at the next iioor. It will be understood that the contact member BDS may be given a greater lead, for example, two or three floors in the event that it is desired to inform the operator sooner that he is to stop at a particular floor.

In the event that the operator does not wish to step at the fifth iioor, he may operate the bypass switch BPS. As a result of the operation of the by-pass switch BPS, a circuit is completed for energizing the operating winding of the bypass relays BBP individual to car B. This circuit may be traced as follows: L2, BPS, BBP, L3. It will be assumed that the car signal BS is lighted as the elevator car passes the sixth floor, and, therefore, that the auxiliary zoning relay GBDY and the zoning relay SDZ are energized. The energization of the by-pass relay BBP opens the contact members BBP?! in the previously traced energizing circuit for the operating winding of the auxiliary zoning relay SBDY. As a result, it is deenergzed and, in turn, the contact members EBDYI open the energizing circuit for the zoning relay BDZ. At contact members BBP3 which are associated with contact member SSBP of the by-passing bank of contact members, the previously traced holding circuit for the operating winding of the holding relay SH is opened. This relay is deenergized and Contact members SH! are reclosed to again start the motor SM in operation to rotate the shaft 2 l. Since the auxiliary zoning relay and the zoning relay associated with the sixth floor are deenergized, the fifth floor is now transferred or allocated to the next car nearest the fifth floor which under the assumed conditions is car C. The call then is transferred to car C and the drive motor SM is stopped as soon as the contact arm SR engages the contact member SSCR of the car selecting bank of Contact members in a manner similar to that described for the stopping of the motor SM and the selection of car B.

Assuming, however, that the operator does not depress the by-pass switch BPS but elects to stop at the fifth floor, he will operate the master switch MS to the oif position and will stop at the fth floor.

When the elevator car B is at the fifth floor, contact brush BDX is in engagement with down cancelling segment SBDX. Connected in series circuit relation with contact member BDX are two contact members 3D and 3l, contact members 30 being normally in the open condition and contact members 3l being normally in the closed condition, as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. These contact members are arranged to complete a circuit to the contact brush BDX only when the elevator car is leaving a floor. These contact members are associated in the control system and may be arranged for operation as illustrated in the copending application of E. M. Bouton and W. F. Eames, Serial No. 736,672, iiled July 24, 1934, and assigned to the assignee of this application. Assuming that the elevator car B is leaving the fifth floor, the circuit for energizing the cancelling winding SDRN of the call storing relay SR may be traced as follows: Ll, SDRI, SDRN, SBDX, BDX, 33, 3|, L2. Since the call storing relay SDR is deenergized, contact members SDRZ are opened and the holding circuit for the operating winding of the holding relay SH is opened. The contact members SH2, in the previously traced energizing circuit for lighting the down floor lantern SBDL, are opened and the floor lantern SBDL is extinguished.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, it will be observed that the system there shown is substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings with the exception of the mechanism which is employed to rotate the shaft 2i for moving the contact arms carried thereby past the various banks of contact members. As illustrated, a notching mechanism shown generally at is provided having an operating winding or electromagnet 6N at the sixth floor which is arranged to attract an armature 36 against the force of a biasing spring 31. arranged to be operated by the armature 36 and it engages a ratchet wheel 33 mounted on the shaft 2 l. At each energizaton and deenergization cf the operating winding 6N, the ratchet wheel 33 is advanced one notch which corresponds to a movement of the contact arms carried by the shaft 2l from engagement with one set of contact members to the next set of contact members of the various banks. An auxiliary notching relay SAN is provided to cooperate with the operating winding @N in its function. As shown, corresponding relays SN and SAN are provided for operating the ratchet wheel 39 of the car selector switch SS at the fifth floor.

Since the functioning of the systemy shown in Fig. 5 is the same as that described hereinbefore in connection with the circuits shown in Fig. 4, except for the operation of the notching drive mechanism 3S, the description of the circuits shown in Fig. 5 will be limited to that necessary to set forth the functioning of the notching drive mechanism. As soon as a call is registered, for example, at the fifth ioor, the call storing relay SDR is energized, as set forth hereinbefore, and at Contact members SDR2 a circuit is completed for energizing the operating winding SN. This circuit may be traced as folows: Ll, SN, SAN l, SDRZ, L2. The energization of the operating winding SN causes the ratchet wheel 39 to be stepped one notch at the same time contact members SNI are closed to complete a circuit for energizing the operating winding of the auxiliary notching relay SAN. This circuit may be traced as follows: Ll, SAN, SNI, SDRZ, L2. At contact ymembers SANI, the previously traced energizing circuit for the operating winding SN is opened. It is deenergized and the armature 36 is returned by the spring 3'! to the non-operated position. This sequence of operation continues and the ratchet wheel 39 is successively stepped to move A pawl 38 is i the contact arms carried by the shalt 2l from position to position until the contact arm 5R engages a contact member corresponding to the car nearest the iii'th floor.

Under the assumed conditions, car B is the car nearest the fifth iloor and, as a result, when the contact arm 5R engages contact member SSBR, a circuit is compieted `for energizing the operating winding of the holding relay 5H, as previously traced. At contact members Hl, the contact members N l are shunted, thereby maintaining the auxiliary notching relay EAN energized and stopping further operation of the notching drive mechanism 35. At this time, the floor lantern SBDL corresponding; to car B at the fifth floor will bc lighted to indicate to the person at the fth floor that car B will stop to answer the call.

In the event that the operator of car B wishes to by-pass the fifth floor, he may operate the by-pass switch BPS in the manner set forth hereinbefore, to release the holding relay 5H and permit the notching drive mechanism to stop the car selector' switch 5S until the contact arm 5R engages a contact member of its bank corresponding to the next car nearest the iiith iioor.

Since certain further changes may be made in the foregoing constructions and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings or set forth in the foregoing description shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A signaling system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a plurality of iioors comprising a plurality of floor lanterns, one for each car at each floor, a call means at each floor common to all the cars, a car selector mechanism including a rotatable motor for each iioor, means responsive to the position of the cars and to operation of a call means at a oor for causing the selector mechanism for that floor to select the car nearest said floor for the direction of the call to answer the call, means responsive to operation of said mechanism for lighting the floor lantern at said oor individual to the selected car, a by-pass device for each car, and means responsive to operation of the by-pass means of said selected car for effecting operation of said selector mechanism to extinguish said floor lantern, select to answer the call the next car nearest said floor for the direction of said call and light the floor lantern individual thereto.

2. A signaling system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a plurality ol floors comprising a plurality of door lanterns, one for each car at each floor, a call means at each iioor common to all the cars, a car selector mechanism including a uniform speed driving mechanism, means responsive to the position of the cars and to operation of a call means at a oor for causing the selector mechanism for that floor to select the car nearest said floor :for the direction of the call to answer the call, means responsive to operation of said mechanism for lighting the iioor lantern at said iloor individual to the selected car, a by-pass device for each car, and` means responsive to operation of the by-pass means of said selected car for eiecting operation of said mechanism to extinguish said floor lantern, select the next car nearest said floor for the direction of said call and light the floor lantern individual thereto.

3. A signaling system for a bank of elevator Cars operable past a plurality oi floors comprising, in combination, signaling means individual to cach i'loor and to each car, call means individual to each floor, a car selecting mechanism individual to each i'loor and provided with a plurality of contact members, each contact member being individual to a car, an arm normally movable in only one direction for successively engaging said members, a rotating electric motor having a substantially constant speed characteristic through a variable range of loads for driving each selecting mechanism, means operable in response to the operation of the call means at a iioor for causing the motor for the iloor of the operated call means to move the arm of its associated floor selector in its normally movable one direction to operate said selecting mechanism to select the car nearest said floor, and means responsive to operation of said selecting mechanism for operating the signaling means at said floor individual to the selected car to indicate the selection.

4. A signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of doors comprising, in combination, a oor lantern individual to each floor and to each car, a call button individual to each floor; a car selector individual to each iioor including a car selecting bank of contact members each individual to a car, a floor lantern bank of contact members each individual to a floor lantern at the floor, and a movable contact arm individual to each bank and disposed to successively engage the contact members thereof; a rotating motor having a substantially constant speed characteristic through a variable range of loads individual to each selector, and

means responsive 'to operation of a call means at a floor for causing the motor corresponding thereto to move the Contact arms of its selector past their respective contact members to select the car nearest said ficor and to light the floor lantern at said iioor individual to the car selected.

5. A signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors comprising, in combination, a iioor lantern individual to each floor and to each car, a call button individual to each iioor; a car selector individual to each floor including a car selecting bank of contact members each individual to a car7 a oor lantern bank of contact members each individual to a cor lantern at the licor, and a movable contact arm individual to each bank and disposed to successively engage the contact members thereof; a rotating motor having a substantially constant speed characteristic through a variable range of loads individual to each selector, means responsive to operation of a call means at a floor for causing the motor corresponding thereto to move the contact arms of its selector over their respective contact members at substantially the same speed, and means responsive to said operation of said call means and to the contact arms engaging the contact members corresponding to the selector car for stopping said motor and for effecting the lighting of the floor lantern for said selected car at said floor.

6. A signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors comprising, in combination, a oor lantern individual to each iioor and to each car, a call button individual to each floor; a car selector switch individual to each oor including a car selecting bank of stationary contact members each individual to a car, a iioor lantern bank of stationary contact members each individual to a Hoor lantern at the iloor, and a movable contact arm individual to each bank and movable in a predetermined path to successively engage the contact members thereof; means for preventing movement of each of said contact arms out of its said predetermined path, a notching mechanism having driving connection with said contact arms, and means operable in response to the operation of a call button at a iioor for effecting the successive energization and deenergization of said notching mechanism to step said contact arms from contact member to contact member until the contact members individual to the car nearest said floor for the direction of the o-perated button are engaged thereby, and means responsive to engagement of said contact arms and the contact members individual to said nearest car for lighting the floor lantern of said nearest car at said door.

7. A signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of oors comprising, in combination, a floor lantern individual to each floor and to each car, a call button individual to each floor; a car selector switch individual to each floor including a car selecting bank of stationary contact members each individual to a car, a floor lantern bank of stationary Contact members each individual to a floor lantern at the floor, and a movable contact arm individual to each bank and movable in a predetermined path to successively engage the contact members thereof; means for preventing movement of each of said contact arms out oi its said predetermined path, and motive means responsive to operation of a call button at a floor for operating the contact arms of the floor selector for that oor to successively engage its stationary contact members until the contact members individual to the car nearest said floor for the direction of the operated button are engaged thereby, and means responsive to the engagement of said arms and said contact members individual to said car nearest said oor for operating the floor lantern at said floor for said car.

8. A signaling system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors comprising, in combination, a iloor lantern individual to each oor and to each car, a call button individual to each licor; a car selector switch individual to each floor including a car selecting bank of stationary contact members each individual to a car, a iloor lantern bank of stationary contact members each individual to a floor lantern at the floor, and a movable contact arm individual to each bank and movable in a predetermined path to successively engage the contact members thereof; means for preventing movement of each of said contact arms out of its said predetermined path, and motive means responsive to operation of a call button at a oor for operating the contact arms of the floor selector for that licor to successively engage its stationary contact members until the contact members individual to the car nearest said floor for the direction of the operated button are engaged thereby, and means responsive to the engagement of said arms and said contact members individual to said car for stopping said motive means and for lighting the floor lantern at said iloor for said car.

9. A signal system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors comprising a plurality of iloor lanterns, one for each car at each floor, call means individual to each rigor, a car selecting mechanism individual to each floor including a plurality of stationary contact members, each contact member being individual to a car, a Contact arm movable in a single plane, means for preventing movement of the contact member out of said plane and a motive means responsive to operation of the call means at a door for causing the motive means of the floor selector at that iloor to operate the contact arm of that selector to successively engage its contact members until it engages the contact member for the nearest car for the operated call means, and means responsive to the engagement of that con tact arm and that contact member for stopping said motive means and for lighting the floor lantern i'or said nearest car at the licor or the operated call means.

l0. A signal system for a bank of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors comprising a plurality of iloor lanterns, one for each car at each floor, call means individual to each oor, a car selecting mechanism individual to each iloor including a plurality of stationary contact members, each contact member being individual to a car, a contact arm movable in a single plane, means for preventing movement of the contact member out of said plane, and a motive means having a substantially constant speed characteristic through a variable range of loads responsive 'to operation of the call means at a floor for causing the motive means of the floor selector at that floor to operate the contact arm of that selector to successively engage its contact members until it engages the Contact member for the nearest car for the operated call means, and means responsive to the engagement of that contact arm and that contact member for stopping said motive means for lighting the floor lantern for said nearest car at the floor of the operated call means.

WILLIAM F. EAMES. 

